Overview
Reported questions use indirect word order (no inversion, no auxiliary in the question) and no question mark. Example: 'Where do you live?' → She asked where I lived. Yes/no questions use 'whether' or 'if'. WH questions retain the question word but change to affirmative word order.
Reporting Questions
- Reported questions use affirmative word order — no inversion, no auxiliary do/does/did.
- Direct'Where do you live?'
- ReportedShe asked me where I lived.
- Direct'Are you ready?'
- ReportedHe asked if I was ready.
WH vs Yes/No
- WHUse the question word: asked where / when / why / how.
- Yes/NoUse if or whether: asked if / whether.
- ⚠️No question mark in reported questions.
- ⚠️No do/does/did: NOT asked where did he go.
Common Mistakes
- ❌ She asked me where did I live.
- ✅ She asked me where I lived.
- ❌ He asked are you ready?
- ✅ He asked if I was ready.
When to use
Interviews
They asked him what his experience was.
Forms
She asked whether I had a valid passport.
Phone calls
He asked when the meeting would start.
Academic
The researcher asked why the results differed.